Sheriff's Office calls bar fight stabbing hate crime

Published: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 5:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 5:05 p.m.

An assailant who stabbed a Hispanic man in the back with a knife inside a local bar Saturday night was arrested under what has been dubbed Florida's hate crime law, a Marion County Sheriff's Office report states.

Monte Quinn Niblett, 59, was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon shortly after the 9 p.m. incident at Terry's Bar and Grill on Northeast 36th Avenue.

When deputies arrived, a bouncer had Niblett secured outside. That's when Niblett unleashed on the victim.

“The (expletive) Mexican was being mouthy and disrespecting the bar maid so he got what he deserved,” Niblett yelled.

Harvey Del Valle, 45, received non-life-threatening injuries to his lower back. Del Valle told authorities he had never met Niblett, who stared at him in threatening manner before the stabbing, the report states.

The bouncer, Michael Byrne, witnessed the attack. Byrne - who works as a bouncer and a cook at Terry's - is Niblett's neighbor.

Before the incident, Byrne heard Niblett state that he knew how to “take care of a Mexican with a knife, cut him right in the kidney,” the report states.

After the stabbing, Byrne said he told Niblett to give him the weapon. Instead, Niblett swiped the knife at Byrne, causing two cuts on the bouncer's arm, the report states.

The report states the Sheriff's Office decided to reclassify the original aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge to a first degree felony under statute 775.085, called “Evidencing prejudice while committing offense.”

The reason for upgrading the charge was “due to the racial statements made by (Niblett) prior and subsequently to the incident taking place.”

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him ion Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>An assailant who stabbed a Hispanic man in the back with a knife inside a local bar Saturday night was arrested under what has been dubbed Florida's hate crime law, a Marion County Sheriff's Office report states.</p><p>Monte Quinn Niblett, 59, was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon shortly after the 9 p.m. incident at Terry's Bar and Grill on Northeast 36th Avenue.</p><p>When deputies arrived, a bouncer had Niblett secured outside. That's when Niblett unleashed on the victim.</p><p>“The (expletive) Mexican was being mouthy and disrespecting the bar maid so he got what he deserved,” Niblett yelled.</p><p>Harvey Del Valle, 45, received non-life-threatening injuries to his lower back. Del Valle told authorities he had never met Niblett, who stared at him in threatening manner before the stabbing, the report states.</p><p>The bouncer, Michael Byrne, witnessed the attack. Byrne - who works as a bouncer and a cook at Terry's - is Niblett's neighbor.</p><p>Before the incident, Byrne heard Niblett state that he knew how to “take care of a Mexican with a knife, cut him right in the kidney,” the report states.</p><p>After the stabbing, Byrne said he told Niblett to give him the weapon. Instead, Niblett swiped the knife at Byrne, causing two cuts on the bouncer's arm, the report states.</p><p>The report states the Sheriff's Office decided to reclassify the original aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge to a first degree felony under statute 775.085, called “Evidencing prejudice while committing offense.”</p><p>The reason for upgrading the charge was “due to the racial statements made by (Niblett) prior and subsequently to the incident taking place.”</p><p><i>Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him ion Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>